Councils across Gloucestershire raked in more than £8million in parking profits last year.

The county council and the six district councils made their biggest profits from providing on and off street parking in a decade in 2017/18, according to new figures released by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Profits made from parking are pumped back into fixing roads and parking services, and legally cannot be used for anything else.

The total profit for councils across Gloucestershire - £8.2million - was up by seven per cent compared to the £7.6million in profit the councils made in 2016/17.

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It has also risen by a third compared to the £6million made 10 years ago.

The councils spent £7.2million on employees and running costs for providing parking in 2017/18.

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The authorities raked in £15.4million in income - including £15.2million in sales, fees and charges.

Generally the cost to the council for providing parking has fallen over the 10 years for which data is available, while the amount of income from sales, charges and fees has risen - leading to the increase in profits.

Gloucestershire County Council made the biggest profit in 2017/18 at £2.4million, a fall of seven per cent in a year, along with Cheltenham at £2.4million, a rise of eight per cent in a year.

Forest of Dean made a loss on providing parking in 2017/18.

TOTAL PROFIT (OR LOSS) IN 2017/18:

Gloucestershire County Council: £2,374,000

Cheltenham Borough Council: £2,368,000

Cotswold District Council: £1,561,000

Gloucester City Council: £966,000

Stroud District Council: £560,000

Tewkesbury Borough Council: £400,000

Forest of Dean District Council: -£78,000

Councillor Dave Norman, cabinet member for parking at the county council, said: “In Gloucestershire, every penny we get from parking goes back into parking schemes and road improvements.

"It pays to maintain existing parking as well as services like parking permits, and also helps fund the planning and development for any new parking schemes needed. Any money left over is dedicated to repairing and improving roads and footpaths.”